City of Cape Town Link

Know your water regulations

<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Our regulations and by-laws</h2></span> <p>We have a number of important by-laws that encourage water-saving and protect both our natural water sources and manmade water systems. These include:</p><p> <b>The Water By-law</b><br> Our Water By-law encourages water-saving as a way of life, regulates water use and plumbing installations, and allows for water restrictions when necessary.</p><p>For more information see our easy-to-read <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Water%20By-law%20_summary_guideline_%20A5.pdf" target="_blank">Summary Guide </a>of the By-law or the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Unofficial_Consolidated_Water_By-law_2010_2018.pdf" target="_blank">unofficial combined version </a>which includes the 2018 amendments for ease of reference.</p><p>Alternatively, you can read the official gazetted version of the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Water%20By-law%202010.pdf" target="_blank">Water By-law (2010)</a>, and the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Water%20Amendment%20By-law%202018.pdf" target="_blank">Water Amendment By-law (2018).</a></p> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p> <strong>No water restrictions are in effect from 1 November 2020.</strong> However, <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Water%20use%20regulations%20permanently%20in%20place_2020.pdf" target="_blank">permanent water-saving regulations</a> remain in place. If you contravene the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Unofficial_Consolidated_Water_By-law_2010_2018.pdf" target="_blank"> Water By-law</a>, the City of Cape Town has the right to issue a fine, take legal action against you, and restrict or disconnect your water. </p></div></div></span> <h4>The Wastewater and Industrial Effluent By-law</h4><p> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Wastewater%20and%20Industrial%20Effluent%20By-law%202013.pdf" target="_blank">The Wastewater and Industrial Effluent By-law (2013)</a> regulates the disposal of wastewater and industrial effluent in order to protect the city’s sewer reticulation system, wastewater treatment plants and the environment. It gives City officials power to take action against people who contravene the by-law.</p><h4>The Treated Effluent By-law</h4><p> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Treated%20Effluent%20By-law.pdf" target="_blank">The Treated Effluent By-law (2010)</a> and <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Treated%20Effluent%20Amendment%20By-law%202015.pdf" target="_blank">amendment (2015)</a> seek to regulate the supply and use of treated effluent. Treated effluent is water recycled from wastewater treatment works and is used for irrigation or industrial purposes.</p><h4>Stormwater Management By- law </h4><p>The <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Stormwater%20Management%20By-law.pdf" target="_blank">Stormwater Management By- law (2005) </a>regulates activities which may have a detrimental effect on the development, operation or maintenance of the stormwater system in Cape Town. Our stormwater system drains the city and prevents disruption and inconvenience to everyday life activities during rain events, as well as assisting with the management of flooding. Our system is an extensive network of built infrastructure – such as pipes and culverts – as well as natural systems like rivers and wetlands. </p> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p> During water restrictions, the regulations in the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Water%20By-law%202010.pdf" target="_blank">Water By-law (2010)</a> and <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Water%20Amendment%20By-law%202018.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment (2018)</a> will be replaced with stricter ones. Understand what <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/Residential-utility-services/Residential-water-and-sanitation-services/water-restrictions-explained">water restrictions </a>mean at home and for your business. </p></div></div></span> <p> <b>By-law brochures and extra resources</b><br> Here are some great resources to help you understand these by-laws and see how they affect your water use.</p><p> <strong>Download our Water By-law poster (in English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa):</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water%20By-law%20Schedule%201%20A4%20Poster%20English.pdf" target="_blank">Water By-law poster (English)</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water%20By-law%20Schedule%201%20A4%20Poster%20Afrikaans.pdf" target="_blank">Water By-law poster (Afrikaans)</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water%20By-law%20Schedule%201%20A4%20Poster%20Xhosa.pdf" target="_blank">Water By-law poster (isiXhosa)</a> <br></li></ul> <span> <div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info toptip"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Top tip</h4><p> <b></b>You can find all our Water and Sanitation policies, laws and by-laws in our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Document-centre#Default=%7b%22k%22:%22%22%2c%22r%22:%5b%7b%22n%22:%22RefinableString01%22%2c%22t%22:%5b%22%5c%22%C7%82%C7%82576174657220616e642073616e69746174696f6e%5c%22%22%5d%2c%22o%22:%22AND%22%2c%22k%22:false%2c%22m%22:null%7d%5d%7d%231ebf4cc1-d64c-4e73-8761-9a24311b57ca=%7b%22k%22:%22%22%7d%27">Document Centre</a>.</p></div></div></span><span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Our policies and strategies</h2></span> <p>We have a number of important policies and strategies that guide the provision of water and sanitation in Cape Town. <br> <br> <strong>These include:</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Cape%20Town%20Water%20Strategy.pdf" target="_blank">Cape Town Water Strategy</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Water%20Services%20Development%20Plan.pdf" target="_blank">The Water Services Development Plan (WSDP)</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/WS%20Business%20Plan_SDBIP%202019_20.pdf" target="_blank">Water and Sanitation Departmental Business Plan 2019/20</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/WCWDM_Strategy_doc.pdf" target="_blank">Water Conservation and Demand Management Strategy</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Service%20Guidelines%20and%20Standards_for_Water_and_Sanitation_CCT%20%28Vers%203%202%29.pdf" target="_blank">Water and Sanitation Engineering Standards and Guidelines </a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Agreements%20and%20contracts/Consumer%20Service%20Charter%202014-15_a.pdf" target="_blank">Consumer Service Charter</a> </li></ul><p>You can find all our Water and Sanitation policies in our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Document-centre">Documents Centre</a>.</p><p> <strong>Take a look at our Water and Sanitation Consumer Service Charter brochures:</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water_Charter_poster_Eng.pdf" target="_blank">Water and Sanitation Consumer Service Charter brochure (English).</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water_Charter_Afr.pdf" target="_blank">Water and Sanitation Consumer Service Charter brochure (Afrikaans).</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Water_Charter_poster_Xho.pdf" target="_blank">Water and Sanitation Consumer Service Charter brochure (isiXhosa).</a></li></ul>

Learn about Cape Town’s water by-laws and make sure your household and business adheres to them.

CCT Water By-law Summary Guidelines (Afrikaans)	584338	GP0\|#bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52;L0\|#0bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52\|Guideline summary;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2021-06-07T22:00:00Z
CCT Water By-law Summary Guidelines (English)	615886	GP0\|#bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52;L0\|#0bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52\|Guideline summary;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2019-08-01T10:00:00Z
Consumer Service Charter Quality Policy Declaration	2694393	GP0\|#255c73a6-7d1a-45e0-b69b-3eaf8e4ccbdf;L0\|#0255c73a6-7d1a-45e0-b69b-3eaf8e4ccbdf\|Declaration;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#45cfb7bc-c332-4e18-a638-3fa94d09d8ed;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2014-10-31T22:00:00Z
IDP 2012-2017: Water Services Business Plan and Development Sector Plan 2015/16 Review	12504120	GP0\|#74da52a5-3d03-41ec-a48f-e4d7139f0e70;L0\|#074da52a5-3d03-41ec-a48f-e4d7139f0e70\|Sector plan;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#4a698fa1-48a1-4def-afa7-749a0e063169;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0\|#a3564296-a481-4dea-bfbb-a4a1f1b2a68f;L0\|#0a3564296-a481-4dea-bfbb-a4a1f1b2a68f\|SDBIP	2015-02-10T10:00:00Z
IDP 2012-2017: Water Services Departmental Sector Plan 2015/16 Review	1695144	GP0\|#74da52a5-3d03-41ec-a48f-e4d7139f0e70;L0\|#074da52a5-3d03-41ec-a48f-e4d7139f0e70\|Sector plan;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#4a698fa1-48a1-4def-afa7-749a0e063169;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2015-02-02T10:00:00Z
Installation of Alternative Water Systems Guidelines (2021)	1907077	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2021-03-15T22:00:00Z
Summary Guide to Installation of Alternative Water Systems (2021)	401804	GP0\|#bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52;L0\|#0bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52\|Guideline summary;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2021-03-15T22:00:00Z
Summary Guide to Installation of Alternative Water Systems (Afrikaans)	422971	GP0\|#bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52;L0\|#0bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52\|Guideline summary;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2021-03-16T10:00:00Z
Summary Guide to Installation of Alternative Water Systems (isiXhosa)	404387	GP0\|#bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52;L0\|#0bc87dd24-abc8-47bd-bc23-41119e47cf52\|Guideline summary;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2021-03-15T22:00:00Z
Treated Effluent Amendment By-law	319654	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2015-06-30T22:00:00Z
Treated Effluent By-law	342220	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2009-09-30T22:00:00Z
Wastewater and Industrial Effluent By-law	2015433	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2006-04-30T22:00:00Z
Water Amendment By-law: 31 May 2018	1197386	GP0\|#ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240;L0\|#0ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240\|By-law amendment;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2018-05-30T22:00:00Z
Water By-law	564494	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2010-09-30T22:00:00Z
Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy (2014/15 Review)	1882171	GP0\|#bb3e3c24-a53e-46bf-bfce-cc8d4ebdaa59;L0\|#0bb3e3c24-a53e-46bf-bfce-cc8d4ebdaa59\|Strategy;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#4a698fa1-48a1-4def-afa7-749a0e063169;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2018-02-09T10:00:00Z
Water Consumer Charter Poster (Afrikaans)	477981	GP0\|#591e1d8b-7507-4dd3-8a9a-59b5cdd318c6;L0\|#0591e1d8b-7507-4dd3-8a9a-59b5cdd318c6\|Poster;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2020-02-25T22:00:00Z
Water Consumer Charter Poster (isiXhosa)	375316	GP0\|#591e1d8b-7507-4dd3-8a9a-59b5cdd318c6;L0\|#0591e1d8b-7507-4dd3-8a9a-59b5cdd318c6\|Poster;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2020-02-25T22:00:00Z
Water and Sanitation Service Guidelines and Regulations	3624796	GP0\|#e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b;L0\|#0e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b\|Regulation;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline	2019-06-19T22:00:00Z